Traditional harvest festivals are being celebrated in various regions of the country for two days beginning today in the form of Vaisakhi, Vishu, Bishub, Bohag Bihu, Poila Boishakh, Vaishakhadi and Puthandu.

People of Punjab call it ‘Vaisakhi’, in Kerala, the day is celebrated as ‘Vishu’, in West Bengal, it is celebrated as ‘Poila Boishakh’, in Assam, as ‘Bohag Bihu’. In Tamil Nadu, it is observed as ‘Puthandu’. The festival of harvest, Baisakhi is being celebrated in the northern part of the country today with full enthusiasm and mutual brotherhood.

On the occasion, farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana, express their gratitude for a good harvest and pray for prosperity in the coming year.

Akashvani correspondent reports that President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar extended greetings to the nation on the occasion. In her message, the President expressed gratitude towards the hard work of the farmers across the country. The president also wished that these festivals bringprosperity and peace in everyone’s life.

Vice President Dhankar said, these festivals are celebrated with unique names and traditions across the nation that weave a beautiful tapestry of the country’s rich culturalheritage.

In Punjab, the festival of Baisakhi, a significant harvest festival, is being celebrated with full enthusiasm, religious fervour and mutual brotherhood today. In the year 1699, on this day Khalsa Panth was established in Sri Anandpur Sahib.

Therefore, there has been a steady flow of people at the historical Gurdwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib since the wee hours.

Akashvani correspondent reports that this day of Baisakhi holds great importance in Sikh history, the freedom struggle of the country and for the farmers.

On this day in 1699, the tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, established the Khalsa Panth by offering nectar to five people at the historical Gurudwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib and named them Panj Pyare.

On this occasion, there is a huge gathering of Sangats from all over the country and abroad at Gurdwara Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. These Sangats bow their heads before Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji with full devotion.

On this day in 1919, British General Dyer martyred countless unarmed patriots by indiscriminately firing in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar. In such a situation, people from different sections of society are reaching Jallianwala Bagh and paying homage to the martyrs.

This day also brings cheers for the farmers because from this day they formally start the harvesting of their wheat crop.